Sleeve type cable cutting device



May 18, 1954 THOMAS 2,678,491

SLEEVE TYPE CABLE CUTTING DEVICE Filed Feb. 13, 1953 INVENTOR. Orr/r7 H. Thomas Patented May 18, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SLEEVE TYPE CABLE CUTTING DEVICE Orrin H. Thomas, Williamsport, Pa., assignor to Russell W. Fuller, Williamsport, Pa.

Application February 13, 1953, Serial No. 336,696

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a cutting device and more particularly to a tool for cutting electrical cables and the like, and it consists in the constructions, arrangements and combinations herein described and claimed.

It is the cardinal object of the invention to provide a cable cutting device wherein the cable is positively gripped at points opposite the travel of a cutting blade so that all strands constituting the cable will be securely held against displacement, and thus insure a clean severance of the cable.

More specifically, it isan object of the invention to provide a cable cutting tool wherein a two part cylindrical housing is employed, hingedly connected together to permit accommodation of the cable and including means between the two parts for clamping the housing upon the cable, the interior of the two part housing having a reduced diameter, the lower part of the housing having a circumferential slot formed therein located so as to divide the reduced diameter thereof, a cutter blade being supported by the lower part of the housing being adjustable through the slot to a point to reach the longitudinal axis of the housing, and said tool further having a handle for rotating the tool circumferentially of the cable, said handle further providing the means for adjusting the cutting position of the cutter blade.

Additional objects, advantages and features of invention will be apparent from the following description, considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure l is an end elevation of the cable cutting tool.

Figure 2 is a vertical section taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the tool, and

Figure 4 is a sectional view on the line 4-4 of Figure 2.

There is illustrated a cable cutting tool generally indicated by the reference character lll comprising an elongated cylindrical housing defined by a lower semi-cylindrical section II and an upper semi-cylindrical section l2, the sections being hingedly connected together along one longitudinal edge as at l3. The opposite longitudinal edges of the sections II and I 2 have co operating clamping members M for securing the tool upon a cable.

As best seen in Figure 2, the interior surface of the sections H and [2 are formed with semicylindrical ribs or beads l5 and I6 respectively, forming a reduced diameter for a purpose to be presently explained.

The lower section II is formed with a circumferential slot l'l extending partly therearound, located between the ribs or beads l5 and I6.

A casting I8 is employed for mounting a cutting blade [9 and in the present instance comprises oppositely disposed arms 20 having a semicircular contour forming a seat for the lower section II, the arms being apertured for reception of bolts 2| which are threadedly engaged in tapped openings of the lower section II.

The casting I8 is of elongated rectangular form having an opening 22 next adjacent the lower section H and a wall 23 at the lower end thereof defining a passage 24 disposed at right angles to the section H. Within the passage 24 ribs 25 are formed for guiding the sliding movement of acradle 26. The cradle 26 mounts a rotatable shaft 21, the latter having the circular cutter blade I9 secured thereto as at 28. It will be noted that the shaft 21 extends in a plane longitudinally with respect to the sections l l and I2 and that the blade [9 is positioned at right angles thereto so that the blade 19 may pass through the slot ll of the lower section II.

The wall 23 of the casting I8 is formed with a medial threaded opening 29 to receive the threaded end 30 of a handle 3!. The inner end of the threaded portion 30 of the handle contacts a bottom wall 32 of the cradle so that by rotating the handle in one direction the cradle 26 will be raised through the passage 24 and move the blade I9 through the slot H, which movement is limited to the medial longitudinal axis of the cable; while rotation of the handle 3i in the opposite direction, the cradle will be allowed to move downwardly by action of gravity.

The description of the operation of the tool will be confined to the severing of electrical cable of the multiple strand type, although the tool is not so limited.

In prior cable cutting tools considerable difficulty has been encountered when severing cable of the multiple strand type in that when the first few strands are severed, the severed ends become displaced to one side or the other of the cutting blade, due to the absence of proper gripping action on said ends, the severed ends causing a binding action upon the blade. This difficulty is overcome in the present invention, by reason of the pressure exerted upon the strands by the ribs or beads I5 and Hi.

In use of the tool, the handle 3| will be rotated in a direction to lower the cradle 26 to its lowermost position, which will also lower the blade I 9 downwardly through the slot ll. With the top section in open position, the lower section ll is placed upon the cable and the top section 12 is then swung into closed position and secured to the lower section by the clamping members 14. As the sections H and I2 are drawn together, the beads or ribs 15 and 16 will firml grip the cable at points upon opposite sides of the line of travel of the blade I9. The handle 3| is now rotated to raise the cradle and cutting blade [9 so that the blade may pass through the slot 17 into engagement with the sheathing of the cable. The tool is then rotated circumferentially around the cable and since the blade contacts the sheathing, a circumferential cut will be made, the blade 19 being advanced'in'to cuttingengagement with the strands of the cable by merely rotating the handle 3| in the proper direction. When the out has been completed, the top section [2 may be released to remove the severed cable. 7

It" will be understood that the device may be employed to merely "sever the sheathing by proper adjustment ofthe blade I9, which will be helpful in removing aportion of the sheathing to bare the wire strands of the'cable with a knife or'other instrument, after the cable is removed from the tool. I

g} While I have shown and specifically described the invention, this is by way of illustration only, and I consider as my own all such modifications in construction'as fairly fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A cable cutting tool comprising a housing having a cylindrical'interior adapted to encompass a cable, the interior wall of said housing having a pair of spacec'lannular members forminga redu'ced'di'ameter, said housing having a slot formed therein extending partially around said housing and positioned between said annular members, a casting on said housing having a passage formed therein, a cradle slidably mounted in said passage, a cutting blade carried by said cradle in'alignment with said slot, and

a handle member threadedly engaged in said casting in operative engagement with said cradle to move said blade through said slot and to also rotate said housing circumferentially about said cable.

2. A cable cutting tool comprising a housing defined by a. pair of elongated sections having a semi-cylindrical interior hingedly connected together along one longitudinal edge, clamping means along the other longitudinal edge to draw the sections together upon an interposed cable, the interior wall of each of said sections having a pair of spaced annular members in alignment with each other forming a reduced interior diameter, one of said sections having a slot formed. therein extending partially around said section and positioned between said annular members of said section, a casting secured to said last named section and having a passage extending at right angles to said section, said casting having-an open end next adj acent said section, and awall at the opposite end, a cradle slidably mounted'in the passage, a revoluble shaft carried by said cradle, a circular cutting blade fixed to said shaft and aligned with the slot of'saids'ection, the wall of said casting having a medially threaded opening formed therein, a handle member threadedly engaged in said opening and being operatively connected with said cradle to move said cutting blade through .said slot and to also rotate said housing circumferentially about an in'terposedcable.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES" PATENTS Number Name Date 1,178,801 Griffin Apr. 11, 1916 1,798,683 'Korab Mar. 31, 1931 1,979,487 Peder-sen Nov. 6, 1934 2,288,670 Babiary "-2 July 7, 19-12 2,373,472 Haumiller Apr. 10, 1945 

